Fasting as a diet

[Murky]

Is it scientifically valid though? I thought detoxing is just a fad. Like taking the spa waters.

It's not scientifically proven no. I have seen people go through the process though and they often seem a lot better than before. They have more energy and seem happier overall. I've gone through some short term detox. It helps but you have to go back and do it regularly to keep your body in a less toxic state. I haven't tried the spa waters. I know that hot tubs and massage can help your muscles release wastes products. Many athletes do that because exercise tends to create a lot of waste products in the muscles.

 

[LucyDuke]

Toxins are chemicals that you come in contact with. It could be from secondhand smoke, pollution, tap water, pesticides and biological processes that produce waste products. Detoxing is a way to get some or most of them out of your body.

I would keep asking you to explain how it's not what Caprine Synesth said, but I guess your last post was an admission that the method runs on wishes.

I've asked others about this before. Nobody (including people that make their money selling this crap) has ever been able to provide details on the toxins, or the harm they cause, or how fasting or sweating or taping magic maxipads to your feet or shooting spicy water up your ass "detoxifies" you.

 

[Loppan Torkel]

.. or shooting spicy water up your ass "detoxifies" you.

Diarrhea and perhaps also Diabetes can be cured or at least improved by shooting poop up the ass. Only poop from healthy individuals though. It might be the next spa thing.

 

[Murky]

I would keep asking you to explain how it's not what Caprine Synesth said, but I guess your last post was an admission that the method runs on wishes.

I've asked others about this before. Nobody (including people that make their money selling this crap) has ever been able to provide details on the toxins, or the harm they cause, or how fasting or sweating or taping magic maxipads to your feet or shooting spicy water up your ass "detoxifies" you.

That's one way to look at it.

Look. You can either side with the people who are skeptical of detoxing and hope that your body does an adequate job on it's own of eliminating toxins from the body. Most healthy people probably can do most of that on their own well into old age without any problem. There are people who do suffer from chronic illness as a result of built up waste staying in their body. Often times it builds up in the gut first.

Some of the stuff that is marketed as a detox remedy is total crap. The footpads are a great example of that. I don't know anyone who shoots spicy water up their ass. There are colonic treatments but those don't involve spices that I know of. I've never had one so I don't know about it. The majority of the well-known detoxing programs stress natural means of giving your body a chance to do a better job. It generally flows something like; stop putting junk in your body, drink plenty of water, do moderate exercise(i.e. Yoga), mediation for relaxation and massage therapy. The time that I went that's what it was about. The food was all organic fruits and veggies so that there would be no toxins from pesticides. I did meet some beautiful women there. If nothing else it's a nice place to meet like minded people. Some of those women are still in contact with me via the Internet. If you're imagining something dark and twisted I think you'll be disappointed.

 

[LucyDuke]

I'm not imagining anything dark and twisted. I'm expressing disappointment that while some people are willing to spend a lot of money on such things, nobody can explain what the hell the magic is.

Eating broccoli instead of Cheetos, drinking water instead of Mountain Dew, exercise, relaxation, those are all good things to do that will make you feel good. There's no need to invoke "toxins" or "cleansing", it's just making healthy choices. That's not to say there's no added benefit from imagining magic, that effect is 100% legitimate, but that doesn't make the magic any less imaginary.

 

[Murky]

I'm not imagining anything dark and twisted. I'm expressing disappointment that while some people are willing to spend a lot of money on such things, nobody can explain what the hell the magic is.

Eating broccoli instead of Cheetos, drinking water instead of Mountain Dew, exercise, relaxation, those are all good things to do that will make you feel good. There's no need to invoke "toxins" or "cleansing", it's just making healthy choices. That's not to say there's no added benefit from imagining magic, that effect is 100% legitimate, but that doesn't make the magic any less imaginary.

There wasn't magic involved with the detox program I went through. Some people might see the body as a miraculous thing. I view it as a product of evolution. It's a biological machine. You treat it well and it rewards you with feeling good. People spend money on things because they think it will help them feel better. Most people do leave detox programs feeling lighter and more full of energy. Is that worth the price? I'll leaving it up to each individual to decide on their own. Some detoxing centers are more expensive than others. Some offer what I consider to be silly treatments like putting warm stones on your skin or dripping water on your forehead. It's very much so buyer beware. If people are considering it I suggest you shop around and ask friends if they've tried it. I do think it can help people, in some cases, over come illness associated with toxins.

 

[LucyDuke]

If someone can explain what "toxins" are, what ailments they cause otherwise healthy people, and how things like fasting eliminate them from the body, then I'll stop calling it magic. "Chemicals" is as useful an answer as "things".

I'm not slamming going off for a weekend to eat vegetables and get massages. I'm slamming promoting it as anything more than that. Generally if it's called "detox" then it's invoking magic.

 

[Murky]

If someone can explain what "toxins" are, what ailments they cause otherwise healthy people, and how things like fasting eliminate them from the body, then I'll stop calling it magic. "Chemicals" is as useful an answer as "things".

I'm not slamming going off for a weekend to eat vegetables and get massages. I'm slamming promoting it as anything more than that. Generally if it's called "detox" then it's invoking magic.

Toxins are a type of poison that are harmful to cells if they are present in large enough quantities. People get Toxins/Poisons mostly because of their environment and diet. Small quantities add up after a while if they are not removed. Typical treatment for poisoning is removing the poison then repairing the damage. So detoxing may be one way of removing some of the poisons. There's nothing magical about it. If someone tells you it's magic they are full of it.

Some people do try to market some products and schemes as "detox" when they aren't proven. That's why I say buyer beware. Don't just take the word of someone who is trying to sell you something no matter how nice they may seem.


http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Toxicology
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Detoxification

 

[LucyDuke]

Right, poison. Total nonanswer. If it were more than magic then someone would be able to explain how it works.

 

[Borachio]

I'm quite surprised you seem to take some of this detox stuff quite seriously, Mr M.

However, fasting:

Research suggests there are major health benefits to caloric restriction. Benefits include reduced risks of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, insulin resistance, immune disorders, and more generally, the slowing of the aging process, and the potential to increase maximum life span.[1] Besides these health benefits, research by Valter Longo has also uncovered a potential link between fasting and improved efficacy of chemotherapy

 

[Leifmk]

Last year I followed a pretty sloppy course of intermittent fasting to cut a bit of weight. Gave myself an 8-hour eating window each day, from early afternoon to shortly before bedtime. Nothing magical about it, simply makes it easier to stick to a calorie deficit without experiencing much hunger. Cut 7 kg over 4 months with minimal loss of strength, and that was as I said a pretty sloppy version with quite a few cheat days. Will do it again next time I need to cut weight.

 

[Heiwod Jablomi]

That's not really fasting, that's just skipping lunch to lose weight.

 

[Rashiminos]

If someone can explain what "toxins" are, what ailments they cause otherwise healthy people, and how things like fasting eliminate them from the body, then I'll stop calling it magic. "Chemicals" is as useful an answer as "things".

I'm not slamming going off for a weekend to eat vegetables and get massages. I'm slamming promoting it as anything more than that. Generally if it's called "detox" then it's invoking magic.

Fasting slows down the rate of input. Some foods are contaminated long before they reach shelves with pesticides, container rub-off, anti-biotics, gulf clean-up residue, etc.